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“When the Emperor passed by we had to bow our heads very low. We were made to believe that the Emperor was too awe inspiring for ordinary humans to look upon directly.”
Such was the depth of reverence afforded the Japanese Emperor. Children were, in fact, told that they would go blind if they looked directly upon the face of the Emperor. Devotion to the Emperor meant being willing to die for him. Thus, children were taught in school from a very young age to willingly give their lives to defend the leader. Young people were taught that they were aohitogusa – growing human weeds – who were to protect the Emperor by serving as his shield. This was, of course, seen as a great privilege. To die for the Emperor was the highest honor that could be attained.
The Japanese people were actually taught that their Emperor was of divine origin. So, for them in battle, a supernatural protection would be in effect. Many believed that bullets would simply bounce off them in battle because they were fighting for their God Emperor.
Such beliefs in the Godlike status of the Emperor have existed in Japan for well over a thousand years. Because of the awe that surrounded the Emperor it was considered inappropriate for him to have any dealings with affairs of state. He was, therefore, given a staff of deputies who served under him and handled all matters regarding the making and execution of policy. The role of the Emperor was far more priestly than political. From about the Ninth Century onwards the real political ruler of Japan was the Shogun. Although the Emperor theoretically appointed the Shogun, it was the Shogun who was the real ruler. In 1867, however, The Shogun relinquished rulership to the Emperor. It was in that year that Meiji became Emperor of Japan. Later he was to grant a constitution to his subjects that stated that the Emperor was “sacred and inviolable.” Yet, despite granting himself political authority, Meiji did not actually exercise that authority. He was content to remain a figurehead.
The ministers who actually ran the country used the Emperor’s Divine like status to get the masses to back their policies. Especially was this the case with regard to the wars fought in the 20th Century. These wars were waged in the name of the Emperor – Hirohito.
Unlike his subjects, Hirohito never considered himself a God. Thinking Japanese could only agree with him. The Emperors who had reigned over the last hundred years had all died at relatively young ages – Hirohito’s father at 47 and his grandfather at 59. Surely this fate would not befall a God. The faith in the Emperor’s divinity was further shaken by the fact that Japan – the ‘Divine Nation’ – was obviously losing the Second World War, the War for their Emperor. History, in fact, reveals that privately Emperor Hirohito was actually opposed to the war. However, his position obligated him to go along with his ministers. He later stated, “ I could not override the decisions of my ministers. I believed this was in accordance with the Japanese Constitution.”
When his ministers were divided on the issue of surrender, however, Hirohito took the initiative. On August 15, 1945 he shocked his subjects by making an announcement on national radio. Most of his subjects were hearing the ‘divine’ voice for the first time. He told his people that Japan was surrendering. He called for the nation to “ bear the unbearable and endure the unendurable.”
At his official surrender to General McArthur on September 26, 1945, Hirohito declared that he was the one to “bear sole responsibility for every political and military decision made and taken by his people in the conduct of war.”
The Emperor declared to his people at this time that the Empror was not divine, that this belief was a myth, fuelled with the sands of time. The reaction was one of shock and disbelief. Many committed suicide, unable to live with this reality.
So ended the reign of the Emperors of Japan, the oldest hereditary monarchy in the world.
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